As Iran’s Leader Renews Threat against Israel, U.S. Policymakers Call for Stronger Sanctions

Iran’s supreme leader this week made his most explicit threat against Israel in years,[1] implying that other Muslim countries should band together to destroy Israel. The comments by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei came a day before President Obama’s State of the Union address Wednesday (Jan. 27) in which the President threatened stricter sanctions against the Islamic Republic for its continued defiance of nuclear negotiations.[2]

Said President Obama in his speech Wednesday (Jan. 27), “As Iran’s leaders continue to ignore their obligations, there should be no doubt: They, too, will face growing consequences. That is a promise.”[3] China, a major Iranian trading partner, has continued to stymie the administration’s efforts to secure a fifth round of sanctions in the UN Security Council.[4]

Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators is pushing the Obama administration to implement immediate, tougher sanctions on Iran and build international support for them.[5]

Khamenei, in a meeting with the president of Mauritania, said Tuesday, “It is certain that the day will come for the regional nations to witness the collapse of the Zionist regime. Whether the day gets closer or farther to us depends on the performance of the Islamic countries and Muslim nations.“[6]

Iran continues its uranium enrichment activities unabated and earlier this month issued an ultimatum, warning that if the United States doesn’t accept Tehran’s counterproposal to a nuclear deal by the end of January, it will commence reactor fuel production at increased levels of enrichment.[7]

In order to avoid a military confrontation with Iran, the bipartisan Senate coalition is calling for U.S. action in the face of what they say is likely to be continued stalling at the UN. “We must…exhaust every possible non-military means at our disposal to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability,” stated a letter by U.S. senators including Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Robert Casey (D-Penn.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and David Vitter (R-La.).[8]

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pledged Tuesday to bring sweeping sanctions legislation to the Senate floor by mid-February.[9] If passed, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2009 (S. 2799) would enable state divestment efforts and target U.S. companies that provide refined petroleum to Iran. Iran’s inability to refine petroleum is a key liability for the Islamic Republic.[10]

The Israel Project is an international non-profit organization devoted to educating the press and the public about Israel while promoting security, freedom and peace. The Israel Project provides journalists, leaders and opinion-makers accurate information about Israel. The Israel Project is not related to any government or government agency.